Vehicle-spring.



No. 831,276. PATBNTED SEPT. 1a, 1906.

' s. FURMIDGE.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13.1905

2- SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

Wm M 'PATENTED SEPT. 18,1906.

S; FURMIDGE.

. VEHICLE SPRING. APPLIUAfIION FILED JULY 13.1905

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- changes having been made.

UNITED STAT 3S PATENT oi rion SAMUEL FURMIDGE. OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SUPPLE- I\IENTARY SPIRAL SPRING COMPANY. OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed July 13, 1905. Serial No. 269,453.

To a, lull/0117 it may concern..-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FURMIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for increasing the resiliency in the connections between axles and vehicle-bodies borne thereby:

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part of same, and in p which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of an automobile-body, showing one form of my invention in side. elevation, the near wheel having been removed. Fig.- 2 is a, similar view illustrating another form of my invention. Fig.3 is a perspective view illustrating the application of still another form of my invention crosswise to the front of an automobile. Fig.

'4 is aside elevation of the front portion of an automobile-body, (the near wheel having been removed,) showing that form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 here applied to the front end of a vehicle, the necessary Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate two additional modifications of my, invention in side elevation, the near wheel removed. Fig; 7 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail, on

an enlarged scale, in side elevation, of the end portion of the device of Fig. 2. Fig.9 is a similar-detail in section on the line 9 9, Fig.

8. Fig. 10 is a forward end view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a top plan view' detail of the device as shown in Figs. 5

and 6, and Fig. 12 represents a modification of the helical spring.

The vehicle-body 1 is supported on the axles 2 of the Wheels 3, the semi-elliptic springs 4 being'attached to the axles by the boxes 5 in theusual manner.

' In Fig. 3 the sleeves 6 take the place of boxes 5 on account of the different location and change of construction. In this figure the box 5 attaches the semi-elliptic spring to the vehicle body or frame surmounted by the hood 7.

In all the forms illustrated in the drawings, except that of Fig. 12, a pair of helical springs 8 is used, as clearly appears in Figs. 3, 7, 9, 10, and 11.

. Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be evident that one leaf 9 of the semi-elliptic spring 4 is raised at itsends, so as to be there disjoined and separated from the lower leaves thereof. The same arrangement of the leaf 9 will be found in Fig. 4; but in Fig. 5 only one end of the leaf 9 is so raised and disjoined.

' In Fig. 3 the arrangement of the leaves of the semi-elliptic spring 4 is inverted with relation to that of Figs. 1, 4, and 5that is to say, in Fig. 3 the lowest leaf becomes the disjoined member 9, while the spring 4' as a whole arches upward instead of downward, as in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. i i

In Figs. 1,3, and 4 a pair of helical springs 8 is shown at each end of the semi-elliptic 4, being located in the space between the end of the disjoined leaf 9 and the next lower leaf 10 in Figs. 1 and 4, (the next upper leaf 10 in Fi 3.) a

In Fig. 5tlie pair of helical springs 8 is located between the leaves 9 and 10 at only one end thereof, while the other end of leaf 9 lies flat on leaf 10.

The eyes "11 of leaves 9 and 10 turn-in opposite directions and encircle bolts 12, which in Figs. 1 and 4 run through the hanger l3 and bracket 14 inediately to connect the vehicle-body 1 with the axle 2.

In Figs. 5 and 6the helical springs 8 are substituted for the hanger 13, there being a pair in eachinstance, the eyes 15 of which encircle the bolts 16, which run through the frame 21, on which in those constructions the vehicle-hotly 1 rests. The bolt 16 runs clear through the frame 21,-and theeye 15 of one helical spring 8 encircles it at the head end, and the eye 15 of the other helical spring 8 of the pair encircles the nut end of bolt 16.

In all the figures (except Figs. l1 and 12) the eyes 1 1 are either shown or understood to encircle the'bolts 12, intervening (as clearlyshown' in Figs. 3, 7, 9, and 10) betweenthe eyes 17'of the springs 8, which alsoiencircle said bolts 12.

From the foregoing description'it will be evident that when weight depresses'the'vehicle-body 1 the pressure comes first on leaf 9, (in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5,) which by itself would be too weak to support the load and.

would'instantly flatten upon leaf 10, depriv-v mg the vehicle of nearly all resiliency. When leaf 9 begins to flatten in Figs. 1', 3,.4, and 5,

the weight is next thrown upon the helical springs 8, which are'sufpported with consid erable firmness by lea '10 and .act asauxiliary springs. Ordinarily the weight is thus absorbed by the helical springs 8. Finally the strain comes upon the leaf andother low'er leaves (upper leaves in Fig. 3) of the semi-elliptics 4. The interposition of the helical springs between a pair of semi-elliptic members in such order that the first strain falls upon a semi-elliptic member, following which it is absorbed by the helical springs,

and finally by another semi-elliptic member, produces resiliency for the vehicle in a degreethat is highly desirable, with an absence of a disagreeable bouncing motion. The

close connection between the eyes 11, eyes 17 and bolts 12 that is to say, between the helical springs 8 and the semielliptics 4- and of the whole spring structure with the vehicle-body prevents side motion or swaying of the latter, even when turning corners. It will be understood that the arrangement de- Y scribed permits of particularly close binding illustrated with some additional features. A air of semi-elliptic springs is provided arch-' mg in opposite directions, each consisting of several eaves. The upper one is attached to the vehicle-body 1 by a box 5 and the lower one similarly to the axle 2. Passing through the same boxes 5 and bound tightly therein with the semi-elliptics 4 and located between the pair of semi-elliptics is a full *elliptic spring 18, the ends of its members being united by bolts and eyes in the usual manner. The lowest leaf 19 of the upper semi-ellipticis provided withupturned eyes 11 and the uppermost leaf 20. of the lower semi-elliptic with downturned eyes 11, bolts 12 passing through each and by means of nuts binding the eyes 17 of a pair of helical springs 8 tightly against the eyes 11. In this structure the weight is first borne by the u per semi-elliptic 4, then it is absorbed by t e helical springs 8, and finally by the lower semi-elliptic 4.

In the structure shown in Fig. 6 the weight is received first upon the semi-elliptic spring 4, being conveyed thereto by the bracket 14 and the stiff and comparatively unyielding helical springs 8, and then the weight compresses the pair of'helical springs 8, afterwhich any part of the weight which is not resiliently borne by said pair of helical springs 8 is thrown for the sake of additional resilience again 11 on the leaf-spring 4. In other words,

. with a ight weight the leaf-spring 4 would be adequate to sustain same in a resilient man- 'ner. If a greater weight were laced the vehicle, said leaf-spririgmight e robbed of its resilience, and to prevent this occurring the helical springs are provided and such greaterweightis borne resiliently by reason of their compression. If, however, a still greater weight be introduced into the vehicle,

so that the maximum resilience of said helical springs does not-serve to provide resilience for the carria e of the greatest weight,

justmentioned, a s ightly-greater strain will be imposed; upon said leaf-sprin great, suchadditional strain will If only slightly to'o much, however', for the helical spr ngs to bear resiliently, the leaf- .If too ilatten out said leaf-spring and deprive it of resilience. I

spring will notcompletely flatten out, and there will therefore remain some resiliency in the combination. It will be understood by 1 those familiar with the use of s rings that without the aid of said helica springs a weight too: great to besustained resiliently by the leaf-s ring 4 would result in flattening out said lea -spring in the first instance, -and thereby, if no auxiliary means were provided depriving the vehicle-of all'resilience. To

prevent this, the'comparatively stiff andunyielding helical springs are introduced and come into action when the'weight to be borne I is too great for the leaf-spring 4 and sufiicient to overcome said comparative stiffnessand unyielding'n ess of said helical springs. Then if the weight prove so great that it cannot be borne'resiliently with the aid of said helical springs theweight is naturally thrown back again upon the leaf-spring 4-, in which some slight'resiliencywill still reside because'ordi- -narily not completely flattened out, owingto the assistance of said helical springs. If, however, the weight be entirely too greatfor the whole combination, said leaf-spring would be completely flattened out in the third stepv of the operation of said parts. v Such instances would, however, be rare, and gener' ally the three steps of weightebe aring herein fully described will sufiice to provide means for resiliently carrying varying weights. In this 'figureit- 'will' be'understood that the eye IIO 11 (not shown) of the semi elliptic'spring 4 turns downward to encircle the bolt 12, which passesthrough the eyes 17 of the pair of helical springs 8. I

In Fig. 12 a modification of the helical springs is shown in which insteadlof a pair of helical springs 8 a single helical spring 22 is used to connect the leaves 9 and 10 of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and the rear 'end of Fig. 5 and the leaves 19 and 20 of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 8. In this structure the .eyes 11 encircle the bolts 12, as;

do also the eyes 23 and 24 on 'the helical spring 22.- It will be noted that theeye 23 is on one side of the semi-elliptics, while the eye 24 is on the other side thereof, both be.-.

4 ing bolted tightly in place.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a pair of leaf members andapair of helical springs interposed between the ends of same, the ends of said helical members being crossconnected at top and bottom and the ends of said leaf members being connected to said cross-connecting means. l

2. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a pair of leaf members having eyes turned on their ends, a pair of helical springs having eyes turned on both of their ends, and a pair of bolts running through the eyes of said leaf members and the eyes of said pair of said helical springs.

. 3. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a primary leaf member, a secondary helical member, and a tertiary leaf member, the ends of both said leaf members being turned into eyes, and a pair of helical members interposed between said leaf members at one end thereof and having eyes turned on theirends, and a bolt passing through the eye on one end of said leaf members and the eyes on one end of said helical members, and allother bolt passing through the eye of said other leaf member and the eyes at the other end of said helical members so as to unite themall together.

4. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a primary leaf member, a secondary helical member compressing a pair of helical springs, and a tertiary leaf member, the ends of both said leaf members being turned into horizontal eyes, and a pair of helical springs interposed between said leaf members at one end thereof and having eyes turned on their ends, and a bolt passing through the eye on one of said leaf members and the eyes at one end of said helical members, and other bolt passing through the eye of said other leaf member and the eyes at the other end of said helical members so as to unite themall together. 5. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a plurality of leaf members and a plurality of helical members at each end of said semielliptic members, said leaf members being spaced apart at their ends, and a single,- means cross-connecting said helical springs.

and attaching same to said leaf springs whereby weight may be communicated from one'to the other.

6. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a pair of semi-elliptic members, a full elliptic member interposed between same and having its upper leaf bound in the same box with one of said semi-elliptic members, and its other leaf bound in the same. box with the other semi-elliptic member, and apair of helical springs at eaohend of said semi-elliptic members and interposed between said ends of both semi-elliptic members and attached 6 thereto.

7. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a pair of semi-elliptic members, one arching body in unison with the semi-elliptic member arching upward and in unison with the semielliptic member arching downward to the axle,'and a pair of helical springs at each end of the semi-elliptic members and tying same together.

8. In a vehicle-spring, the combination of a pair of semi-elliptic members, one arching upward and the other downward, a full elliptic spring interposed between same, said full elliptic spring being bound to the vehicle-body in unison with the semi-elliptic member arching upward and in unison. with the semi-elliptic member arcing downward to the axle, the first-mentioned of said semielliptic springs having eyes turned on both ends arching upward, and the latter of said semi-elliptic springs havin'g like eyes turning downward, bolts running through said eyes,

.and a pair of helical springs at each end of said semi-elliptic springs and interposed between same and firmly united thereto by the said bolts.

9. In a vehiclespring, the combination of a pair of semi-elliptic members, a full elliptic member interposed between same and having its upper leaf bound in the same box with one of said semi-elliptic members, and its other leaf bound in the same box with the other semi-elliptic member, and a pair of helical springs at each end of said semi-elliptic members and interposed between said ends of both semi-elliptic members and attached thereto, said full elliptic member being out of contact with-the membersjoining together the ends of said semi-ellipticmembers.

'10. In a vehicle-spring, thecombination of a primary leaf member, a secondary helical member, and a tertiary leaf member, the ends of both said leaf members being turned into eyes, said helical member being interposed between said leaf members and having ,7

eyes on the ends thereoffthe eye on one of said leaf members and the eye on one end of the helical member being arranged in horizontal alinement, and the eye on the other leaf member and the eye on the other end of the helical member also horizontally alin ing, and bolts passing through said eyes to bind the leaf and helical members together.

rgo

' In testimony whereof I have afiixed signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL FURMIDGE. Witnesses:

M. E. JOHNSON, I GLADYS WALTON.

upon the application It' is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 831,276, granted September 11, 1906, of Samuel Furrnidge, of S's/Louis, Missouri, for an improvement in Vehicle-Springs? an error oocurs in the printed specification requiring'correetion, as follows I that the In line 34, page 3, the word compressing should reed comprising; and said Letters. Patent should be read with this correction therein. that the same conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofilce.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of January, A. 1)., 1907.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner 0 f Patents. 

